Utility chair structure and the like



April 2, 1963 A. w. SILVA 3,083,999

UTILITY CHAIR STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 10, 1958 NVENTDR United States Patent snsassa UllLlTY CHALK STRUCTURE AND THE LIKE Alfred W. tiiiva, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Adolph F. Graf von Suden, 83H Diego, Calif. Filed Feb. 10, 1958, Ser- No. 714,107 Claims. (Cl. 297-286) My invention relates to utility chair structure, and more particularly to apparatus adapted for providing adjustable, elevating and sidewardly movable features in chair construction, so that same may be easily applicable not only as a professional piece of furniture but also, for uses as a resting, reclining, convalescing apparatus, and for general household usage.

Manifestly, an object of my invention is to provide a chair structure having a supporting frame which may be pivotally adjusted and arranged to meet any desired requirement, also, said supporting frame having a suitable hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanically operable adjusting apparatus connected thereto and adapted for elevating, depressing and tilting said frame to any desired height or position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a chair structure with suitable means for controlling the seat position and for controlling the elevation and depression thereof, when in use.

Another object of my invention is to provide the frame structure of said chair with means adapted for swiveling the seat thereof into any desired direction or position.

A further object of my invention is to provide the frame structure of said chair with suitable mobile means for allowing said frame structure to be readily rolled and moved when desired into a stationary position or into place when in use.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position, economical in manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

Reference is now had to the accompanying drawings, in which the similar reference characters denote the same parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the chair structure, showing same in a conventional position.

PEG. 2 shows a side elevational view thereof, taken from the left of FIG. 1, and showing the chair frame structure in a lowered position.

FIG. 3 shows a fragmentary top view of the frame and chair seat, showing the seat section provided with a sidewardly swiveling member.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical fragmentary sectional view of the seat section, taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged and a fragmentary sectional view of the swiveling plate, taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

PEG. 6 shows an enlarged and a fragmentary elevational and partly sectional view of the frame elevating apparatus, taken in the same position as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged and fragmentary sectional view of the seat and back rest, showing in dotted lines their adjustable and alternate positions.

P16. 8 shows a fragmentary elevational view of the back rest pivoting structure and means for locking same in adjusted position, taken from the bottom of FIG. 2.

3-,@83,99 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 ice Describing my invention more in detail, in its broader aspects, said invention comprises a frame structure, generally designated by numeral 2, having a pair of front section members 4 and a pair of rear supporting members 6, including an upper structure 8 to which the seat member 10 is connected or mounted thereon, also, having a back rest member 12 extending rearwardly, which is pivotally connected to said seat member, said seat member 1t) and said back rest member 12 having a pair of resilient arm rest members 14, as shown.

The seat member 10 may, if so desired, be provided with a suitable bottom plate 16 forming a part of the upholstered seat, which may be of any desired design and structure in order to meet any appropriate condition or requirement, while said back rest 12 is also suitably upholstered, having a pivotal hinge member 18, as shown in FIG. 8, so that a desired inclined position between said respective members 10 and 12 may be had, and that, such inclined position may be maintained by means of a suitable fastening lever member Zti, when required, as shown in FIG. 8.

The arms rests 14 are made out of suitable rubberized or resilient compound that may be bent and yield, or become arched, stretch, retaining however, a normal configuration, when in position as shown in FIG. 1, of which, the respective end sections 22 are suitably mounted upon the respective sides of said seat lit and said back rest 12, thus allowing said arm rests to change their originally normal position to suit, when said back rest is pivoted rearwardly and downwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, without materially changing the original shape and configuration, and also, preserving the rigidity thereof when in use.

The upwardly extending ends of said front section members 4, forming the upper structure 8, are provided with frontwardly extending end members 24, which are held in pivoted position by means of suitable bracket members 26 and also supported by an upper cross bar 28, so that an inclined position of said seat member ill may be secured, as shown more clearly in FIG. 7.

In order to provide a horizontally sideward movement for said seat member 10, as shown in FIG. 3, a suitable plate member 3% is provided at the underside section of the bottom plate :16, both of which are held in center by means of a suitable center bar or bushing 32, as shown in FIG. 5, having fastening members or collars 34 disposed at the top and bottom sections, for holding said plate 16 and said plate member 30 in their respective positions.

Said upper cross bar 28 is held in mounted position on said plate member 30, by means of brackets, thus allowing only the seat bottom plate 16 to turn sidewardly and about the center of said bushing 32.

A lower cross bar 36 is provided at the downwardly extending ends of said front section members 4 and each outwardly extending end thereof terminating with a suitable wheel 33, while the mid-section 39 of said frame structure 2 is provided with a suitable center brace 40, held in place by means of brackets 42, and having said rear supporting members 6 pivotally mounted, as shown, the lowermost ends thereof being provided with a supporting brace 44, for maintaining rigid structure for the respective members of said frame structure 2.

it may be noted, that either the front section members 4 or the rear supporting members 6 may, if so desired, be provided with suitable wheels, roller-s or other suitable free rolling apparatus or appliance, so that the frame 2 may be easily handled or moved from place to place, or, that either one or all of the downwardly extending supporting ends of said frame 2 may be made free of rollers, wheels or the like, and be formed into upwardly curved ends, as shown at 46 in FIG. 1, or, that the same may be entirely eliminated, for providing a rigid and stationary position of said supporting members of said chair frame and'thereby preventing said supporting members 6 from sliding.

In order to provide an elevationalor depressional control for said apparatus frame structure 2, a suitable contractable and extendable member 48 is provided, between said front section members 4 and said pivotally mounted and angularly extendable rear supporting members 6,-of which the front end 50 'is connected by means of a rod member 52 to said lower cross car 36, while the rearwardly extending end of said member 48 is provided with a suitable retractable bar member-54 and adapted for connecting said supporting brace 44.

Obviously, it may be noted, that the structure of said contractable and extendable member 48may be of any conventional design, and that suchdevice may be operable pneumatically, hydraulically or by means of mechanically actuating springs, or the combination thereof, and in order to control the position of such a device, so that the elevation or depression of the frame structure 2 may be secured, a suitable controlling valve member 56 may be provided at the side section of said seat 10, as shown in FIG. 1, for connecting the tubing 58, thereby directing and regulating the fiuid flow and controlling the passage of said fluid into and out of said extendable member 43, as shown;

While I have thus described my invention with great particularity, it will be clear that the same may be mod ified throughout a wide range.

I accordingly do not propose to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown on the drawings and described in the specification, but reserve therights in practice to make any and all changes'and modifications therein, which-may come Within the scope of the ap-' pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a chair structure of the class described compris ing in'combination witha frame structure, an upper structure, a seat member having a bottom plate, a tiltable back rest member hingedly connected to said bottom plate of said seat member, a pair of arm rest'rnember's' of rubberized compound structure and having the respective ends mounted on the sides of said seat member and the sides of said back rest member for securing arm support when said back rest member is in an upright position or tilted into an inclined slant, a plate member horizontally positioned beneath said bottom plate of said seat member and mounted upon said frame upper structure, a bushing secured in said bottom plate and said horizontally positioned plate member, a collar at each end of said bushing for securing and for holding said plates together'and thereby securing a swivelling action for said seat and said back rest members over said frame chair structure.

.2. In a chair structure of the class described as defined in claim 1, wherein frontwardly extending end members are provided in said upper structure, bracket members mounted at-the undersidesurface of said plate member and in front of said bushing and said collar, an upper cross bar mounted in said bracket members and the ends of said frontwardly extending end members of s'aidupper structure for securing an inclined position for said seat member, and a fastening lever member connecting a pivotal hinge member of said bottom plate and said tiltable back rest member for holding samein tiltably locked position.

3. In a chair structure of the class described'oomprising a frame having an upper structure, frontwardly extending ends in said upper structure, 'a seat member and a hingedly connected back rest member mounte'd'on said upper structure, a pair of front section members extending downwardly from said upper structure of said frame, a pair of rearsupporting members pivotally connecting said pair of front section members each having a downwardly extending frame end terminating with an upwardly curved end, a supporting brace in close proximity to said curved ends of said rear supporting members for strenghtening same, a lower cross bar disposed at the extreme downwardly extending ends of said front section members for strengthening same, wheels mounted at the extending ends of said lower cross bar for securing a frontward and rearward movement for said downwardly extending ends of said pair of front section members when said pair of rear supporting members are held stationary and rigid in position, in combination with, a pair of bracket members mounted underneath said seat member, an' upper cross bar connecting said pair of bracket members and said frontwardly extending ends of said upper structure of said frame for securing a pivotal action for saidseat member, and means connectingsaid lower crossbar of'saidfront section members and said supporting brace of said pivotally connected rear supportingrnembers' for bringing together and separating said downwardly extending ends of said front section members and 'wh'e'n'said'rear supporting members are held in a stationary and rigid position and thereby elevating and depressingsaid upper structure of said frame including said seat member together with said hingedly connected backrest of said chair structure.

4. In a chair structure of the class described comprising a frame structure, an upper structure in said frame structure, a seat member and a hingedly secured back rest member pivotally and tiltably mounted upon said upper structure, a pair of front section members extending downwardly from said upper structure for supporting and for holdingsaid seat member including said back rest member'in position, a mid-section in said pair of front section members, a lower cross bar at the extended ends of'said pair of front section members having a wheel mounted at each extending end thereof, a center brace disposed "at said mid-section of said front section members, brackets mounted on said mid-section for supporting said' center brace in position and for strengthening said pair of front section members of said frame structure, a pair of rear supporting members pivotally connecting said centerbrace extending angularly and downwardly therefrom, a supporting brace at the downwardly extending ends 10f said'rear supporting members, hydraulic means connecting-said lower cross bar and said supporting brace for an'gularly converging and diverging said front section members toward and from said rear supporting members and thereby raising and lowering said upper structure of said frame structure together with said seat member and said back rest member of said chair structure, a controlling valve member mounted at the side of said seat member for-controlling and regulating said hydraulic means whereby the angular raise and lowering of said upper structure of said frame structuremay be controlled .andregulated, and a pair of resilient arm rest members each mounted at the sides of said seat member and said backrestmember for maintaining side supports for said seat member when said back rest member is in an upright normal position or tilted into a rearwardly inclined slant and when said seat member is pivotally actuated and in tilted position.

5. In a chair structure of the class described comprising'a frame structure, a pair of front section members extending downwardly in said frame structure, an upper structure in each of said front section members and each having a frontwardly extending end member, a. pair of rearsupporting members extending angularly and downwardly and each pivotally connecting said front section members,- a center brace in said pair of front section members'for supporting said pivotally connecting rear supportingmembers and for strengthening said frame structure, a lower cross bar at the downwardly extending ends of said front section members, a Wheel at each end of said lower cross bar for providing mobility for said frame structure, a supporting brace in close proximity to the downwardly extending ends of said rear support- 5 ing members for strengthening same and said frame structure, a seat member having a bottom plate tiltably and pivotally mounted on said frontwardly extending end members of said upper structure, a back rest member hingedly connecting said bottom plate of said seat memher, a pair of arm rest members of resilient structure each mounted on the sides of said seat member and said sides of said back rest member for securing arm support when said back rest member is in .an upright position or tilted into an inclined slant and when said seat member is in a tilted position or swivelled over said upper structure of said frame structure, means connecting said supporting brace of said rear supponting member and said lower cross member of said front section members for *angularly rolling and extending said front section members away from said rear supporting members when same are held in a stationary position and for retracting said angularly rolling position of said front section members and bringing same toward said rear supporting members and thereby providing an angularly depressing and elevating position for said upper structure of said frame structure including said seat member and said back rest member of said chair structure, and a controlling valve member mounted on at least one side of said seat memher and connecting said last mentioned means for controlling and regulating said depressing and elevating posi tions of said upper structure of said chair structure, substantially as described.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 196,377 Newsom Oct. 23, 1877 1,562,161 Guterman Nov. 17, 1925 2,442,303 M-ayfield May 25, 1948 2,585,447 Eichorst Feb. 12, 1952 2,690,793 Pederson et a1. Oct. 5, 1954 2,749,969 Tatter June 12, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 450,928 Germany Nov. 3, 1927 803,930 Germany Apr. 12, 1951 1,035,299 France Apr. 15, 1953 

1. IN A CHAIR STRUCTURE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION WITH A FRAME STRUCTURE, AN UPPER STRUCTURE, A SEAT MEMBER HAVING A BOTTOM PLATE, A TILTABLE BACK REST MEMBER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM PLATE OF SAID SEAT MEMBER, A PAIR OF ARM REST MEMBERS OF RUBBERIZED COMPOUND STRUCTURE AND HAVING THE RESPECTIVE ENDS MOUNTED ON THE SIDES OF SAID SEAT MEMBER AND THE SIDES OF SAID BACK REST MEMBER FOR SECURING ARM SUPPORT WHEN SAID BACK REST MEMBER IS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION OR TILTED INTO AN INCLINED SLANT, A PLATE MEMBER HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED BENEATH SAID BOTTOM PLATE OF SAID SEAT MEMBER AND MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME UPPER STRUCTURE, A BUSHING 